24 Aug Weekly Reads: 08/20/2018

The Week’s Best Articles: Week of August 20th, 2018

Interest Rates: Trump Complains About Rising Rates – click hereA common theme in the financial news media is that President Trump has been complaining about the Fed’s plan to increase interest rates over time. He feels that these moves threaten to derail “his” rebound in the economy. This precise reason is why the Fed is independent of politics and has the ability to pursue the best monetary path for the country.

Investing: Paul Singer and Elliott Management – click hereLearning from successful investors can be a great way to improve. This review of Elliott Management founder and leader Paul Singer is informative about an alternative way of investing. While most would not have the ability nor the legal knowledge to pick some of the fights he does learning from the strategies employed is informative.

Trade: Tariffs Will Hurt US More Than the World – click hereFears of a trade war have been constant in the news recently. In this article, the CEO of Maersk, the global shipping giant, outlines how he believes these tariffs will hurt the US more than they will help.

Investing: Activist Hedge Funds Aren’t Good For Investors, So Why Do They Exist? – click hereActivist hedge fund managers are some of the most well-known investors in the world. They have done a good job making money for their investors (and themselves) but the reality is they may not be good overall. The Harvard Business Review looks at the issue and why these funds retain such clout.

Investing: JP Morgan Unveils New App and Equity Trading Pricing – click hereWith the rise of low-cost brokerage firms, it has been relatively clear that equity trading commissions were going to ultimately wind up at zero. What is surprising is that the first to arrive at that level is one of the most tenured financial services firms in the world, JP Morgan Chase.

Technology: How Microsoft Is Fighting Hacking, And Why It Doesn’t Matter – click hereHacking in the modern world has become commonplace. Microsoft has taken the unusual step to fight these Russian hackers, who use the company’s technology to wage electronic war, by identifying and taking offline key Microsoft built servers. This article examines the decision and why ultimately it doesn’t matter.

Investing: Trump In Trouble May Hurt Emerging Markets? – click hereJP Morgan and Blackrock, two of the largest financial firms in the world, both believe that strain President Trump is under currently could hurt emerging markets. This article looks at some of the impacts these issues may have on areas outside of the US.

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